Leading with Clarity and Autonomy
Leadership in James’ world is about creating the conditions for others to succeed. Drawing on his military background, he applies the principle of mission command — setting clear intent, defining guardrails, and then stepping back to let teams take ownership. This model fosters psychological safety, encourages experimentation, and enables faster decision-making across the organisation.
Hiring for Talent, Not Titles
Rather than filling roles with narrowly defined criteria, the focus is on hiring exceptional talent and shaping roles around their strengths. This approach has brought in engineers from industries like food delivery and big tech, injecting fresh thinking and raising the bar for performance. Diverse perspectives aren’t just welcomed — they’re essential to solving complex problems.
Customer Journeys Over Business Outcomes
Barclays is shifting its technology teams to focus on customer journeys rather than internal metrics. This change has led to outsized results, with feature teams now accountable for reducing friction, solving pain points, and delivering real value to customers. It’s a model that aligns technology delivery with the lived experience of the end user.
Staying Sharp in Leadership
In a high-pressure role, staying effective requires discipline. James prioritises exercise four times a week and uses a simple but powerful daily reflection habit: asking what his future self wants to have achieved by midday and by the end of the day. He also challenges the default mindset of “more is better,” advocating for simplicity and intentionality in how teams work and how time is spent.
Conclusion: Leadership That Moves the Needle
James Higgins’ story is a masterclass in modern leadership — one that values clarity, autonomy, and purpose. His ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving is helping Barclays deliver meaningful change at scale.
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